<p>I’m interested in Bowdoin, Middlebury and Wesleyan but having a hard time to figure out which one is the best top choice school. I liked all three campuses – but none of them really stood out from the others, meaning, they were all equally beautiful, or at least pretty close. What are the pros and cons of all three? Which one has the best history program (which I’m interested in)? What are the main differences between the three?</p>
<p>You really thought that Wesleyan’s campus was on par with the other two? Or even that Bowdoin’s and Wesleyan’s campuses were on par with that of Middlebury?</p>
<p>Middlebury was very beautiful. And Bowdoin’s was too as well as Wes. Maybe not in the same category, but in different ways, sure. They’re all good campuses – its not as if one would be considered sub par to the others.</p>
<p>Funny thing, impressions of beauty. We anticipated our now Bowdoin student would love Middlebury after Williams came close but wasn’t just right because of some intangibles plus the highway running through campus. But no, Midd was “creepy” and “dreary” - even after the rain stopped and the sun came out. It is very gray - lovely, but gray and sprawling. I guess if you want warm and cozy, it isn’t!</p>
<p>A follow-up overnight visit - we really tried, as we hadn’t discovered Bowdoin yet - led to more certainty. Too isolated, too desolate, dorms not that nice, was the verdict … maybe it doesn’t help that we live in the mountains ourselves, so that was nothing special.</p>
<p>So the cozy confines of Bowdoin on the gorgeous Maine coast, with posh dorms and an easy walk to the eclectic and bustling downtown - and much better weather than inland New England - well, that was the “just right” we were waiting to hear. (Sigh. It took so many visits to so many places!) </p>
<p>You just never know - and you can’t assume your opinion of beauty is anyone else’s! It’s so relative. You just have to put in the time - and the miles!</p>
<p>:) GOOD LUCK - the college search is a wonderful adventure! Make a list of things that are most important to you besides academic programs, which of course need to come first - (in our case it was dorms and that easy walk to someplace great and charming) and don’t settle on these, because you will kick yourself later! After you find schools that meet your criteria, then trust your gut.</p>
<p>Middlebury “creepy”? Lol! Haven’t heard that one!</p>
<p>^^ you mean, “The Shining” <em>wasn’t</em> shot on location there? (jk)</p>
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<p>Funny thing how subjective the beauty thing is!! I had exactly the same reaction when I visited to Middlebury - to such an extent that I immediately scratched it off my college list. The gray and sprawling thing just took me down regardless of the beauty of the surrounding countryside.</p>
<p>In terms of Campus Beauty:</p>
<p>Middlebury > Bowdoin > Wesleyan</p>
<p>In terms of Academics:</p>
<p>Middlebury > Wesleyan > Bowdoin</p>
<p>Go with Midd :)</p>
<p>not necessarily/Bowdoin has the Maine Coast-nothing more beautiful-and the Pine trees.</p>
<p>Academically I think Wesleyan and Bowdoin > Midd. Midd only rose to prominence quite recently compared to the other 2.</p>
<p>What’chu talking about mcvcm.</p>
<p>Academically</p>
<p>Bowdoin > Middlebury > Wesleyan</p>
<p>Notions of beauty are quite subjective. Bowdoin’s campus didn’t appeal to me at all, while Midd’s campus took my breath away. As superficial as it sounds, campus beauty is the main reason I chose Midd over Bowdoin.</p>
<p>I didn’t like the sprawl of middleburry either when I visited last March. I didn’t like the stone buildings or the fact that all the buildings look really similar. bowdoin and williams had more variety in their architecture.</p>